PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONTechnoServe is currently looking for Senior Food Processing Advisers for a potential USAID-funded Agriculture Competitiveness Project in Nigeria. The Project is designed to strengthen agriculture productivity and profitability of smallholder farmers. The Project comprises three main components: (i) design of the Agriculture Competitiveness Fund for private sector partnerships and funding to catalyze technological innovations; (ii) administration of the Agriculture Competitiveness Fund to develop private sector partnerships and provide grants; and (iii) technical assistance that directly supports, coordinates, and organizes qualifying recipients (i.e., partners and grantees) to achieve the Mission’s food security objectives. The Project will contribute to the Mission’s Feed the Future strategy, which looks to improve agriculture competitiveness of smallholder farmers in Nigeria.PRIMARY PURPOSEThe Value Chain Expert will lead and supervise value chain development activities, including but not limited to production, harvest/post-harvest handling, processing and marketing of agricultural commodities. S/He will provide technical leadership under the priority value chains in order to enhance private sector investment in the agricultural sector.DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Conduct value chain analysis in order to identify major constraints to improved agricultural competitiveness and develop roadmaps towards achieving this.
Recommend opportunities for strengthening markets and increasing value-add opportunities to improve local economic development.
Identify strategic opportunities in specific value chains for formal integration of smallholder farmers and processors to collaborate on sustainable production and processing.
Provide expertise on value chain dynamics across sectors and sub-sectors.
Develop relationships and facilitate linkages between value chain actors such as smallholder farmers, input suppliers, private sector actors, financial institutions etc.
Device an approach that will support value chain competitiveness – support in building technical capacity of value chain actors in responding to changes in market dynamics
REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s degree in the relevant field including Business Management, Economics (Master’s degree preferred)
7 years’ experience in projects relating to value chain development or rural business development
Excellent technical knowledge of production and harvesting; value addition; marketing and quality standards
Track record of building and managing strong client and stakeholder relations with the private sector
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and good computer skills in business software (Excel, MS Project and PowerPoint)
Training and experience working in USAID projects is an added advantage
Fluency in English
Qualified and interested applicants should submit a Word-formatted single document consisting of: Cover letter CVSubmit to nigeriajobs@tns.org. Please identify the position for which you are applying in the subject line. We welcome hearing from qualified and interested applicants. Due to a high volume of applicants, please understand that we are able to contact only those who meet the minimum qualifications. No phone calls, please.TechnoServe encourages diversity at all levels and across all facets of our organization. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, ages, HIV/AIDS status, protected veteran status, disability and all other protected classes.
Apply via :
nigeriajobs@tns.org